Report: medical staff thinks Hightower tore ACL

On Sunday, changing quarterbacks wasn't enough to save the Redskins from themselves. They dropped their second consecutive game to a one-win team, this time the Carolina Panthers. And while John Beck certainly looked more like an NFL signal caller than Rex Grossman did against the Eagles, Washington's backfield could feature different faces next week, too.

It appears that Beck's job is safe (for now, anyway), but running back Tim Hightower, who left the Panthers game with a knee injury and was seen on crutches as he left the stadium, will be out. The only issue is how long.

The Washington Times' Nathan Fenno wrote after the game that the extent of Hightower's injury wasn't clear but the running back said X-rays were negative (an MRI is scheduled for Monday). Coach Mike Shanahan hoped Hightower didn’t injure his anterior cruciate ligament.

“It’s not excruciating pain, it’s just uncomfortable,” Hightower said. “I’ve never really been hurt so I don’t know what stuff is supposed to feel like.”

Hightower's status for the immediate future and beyond is unclear, but if he can't go he will be replaced by Ryan Torain and Roy Helu.